Visit from the Norgaards
It has already been a month since my partner Victoria, our 13 yr old son Russell and I left the orphanage in Lenana where we spent a week helping out in the classroom, the kitchen, and wherever else we could be of “use”. More significantly, it has been a month since we’ve been with the children of the HHF – their bright eyes, their smiles, their tremendous spirits and their lightness of being – remarkable to me when they are surrounded by such adversity. We’ve spent the weeks since our departure thinking about the kids we got to know , the adults who pour their heart and soul into to making a difference for these children, and about how and when we can get back to Lenana!
We decided as a family that we would spend some part of our African holiday “giving back” during our visit. We made contact with Hanne just before we left Canada and got Lucy’s coordinates. Never having done this type of volunteering before, we weren’t sure what to expect, but thought we were ready for anything! What we didn’t anticipate was how quickly and warmly we would be welcomed. From the moment Lucy greeted us out at the road and walked us in to the HHF compound we felt part of the HHF family in Lenana. And, just having met Hanne and Ted last week, we get a sense of where this comes from! We also didn’t anticipate the impact that the children would have on us – they stole our hearts! I think we all experienced levels of joy mixed with sadness – it is impossible to overlook the surroundings in which HHF is operating. The future is bleak for many adults in the slum, and the environment is full of danger and risk for children. This, for me, was tempered by the real impact that Hanne and Ted (and family) are bringing at a “grass roots” level to these children – nutrition, clean water, health, education, and love. These add up to hope and opportunities and ultimately, a future beyond the confines of the Lenana slum.
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While we only volunteered at HHFL for only a week, we’ve come away with an experience that will stay with us for a lifetime. It is an experience that will spur us on to do more with HHF – having seen the real impact HHF is making in the lives of these vulnerable children. We will get back to Lenana, and until then the children and adults of HHF will be in our hearts!
Andrew, Victoria, Russell Norgaard
Some letters from our children…
Dear Mama Hanne and Baba Ted
First and foremost I would like to thank you for all good things you have done for us in order to be in high school. I even thank you for the food and clothing that you have provided us with I am grateful for every thing and may Good bless the good work of your hands. Here in high school I enjoy the life well, I have made friends with my class mates. I have even exploited my talent in my extra curricular activities and also academically. I promise to work to my ability to achieve my goals in life and to leave high school better than I found it. Finally I would like to thank you for the love and support you have given us may God bless you.
Yours faithful, Moses Kamau
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To: Mother Hanne
Hi mummy, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the things you have done to me.
First thank you for paying my school fees so that I can get better education. The school I went to is so good and as for me I don’t see any thing bad there. The climate is friendly, the diet is good and the system of teaching is very high. All the things that you provide to me are very useful and good including food and clothing. From the very day that you accepted me, I started seeing a bright future ahead of me. May you continue with the same spirit and God bless you for your kindness.
Love from Sharon Jerotich
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Dear Mama Hanne and Baba Ted,
Just a note to say a big thank you for giving us such a fabulous time at your place. Back here in Kenya during the April holiday. All of us were very much pleased to be there and we extremely enjoyed ourselves.
I’ll never forget the moment we went riding bicycles and I got my toe hurt in the process. I think that is why I’ve learnt to ride bicycles now!! My toe ached for a few days, but it was worth it for the fantastic moment we all had. Thanks to Mama Hanne’s first-aid, and I think I will show her method of first aid to all the children in the project when we come home for the August holiday. The food we ate was a delicacy and I really enjoyed the moment the girls went cooking in the kitchen. Remember everyone congratulated us at the table and it felt very great to be called a good cook!!
We are on midterm break; everything is okay and in place except for the fact that we miss you a lot! We long for the moments you spent with us and we can’t wait for the day you’ll all come back in November. Otherwise we are very happy to be home, but unfortunately not all of us are here. Faith is fairing on well in her new school and I am very happy for her. She went back
to school on 16th June after their midterm.
How are Alexandra and Tommy? Pass our warm greetings to them and tell them that we are very grateful for all that they are doing to make us progress well. We also send little prince Sebastian lots of hugs and kisses from everyone,(he can imagine how many they are!!). I wish you all the best in your lives and I know that the Almighty will guide you in all you lay your hands on.
Remember that there are people back here in this land, at the far side of the world who really really love you and are grateful for all you provide for us.
Have a joyous time with your family and friends. I miss you a lot. Goodbye!!
Your loving daughter, Mercy Achieng
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Hi, how are you? Hoping against hope that you are okay and doing fine, as we all do. My main aim of writing is to communicate to you about my progress at the Informal Sector Business Institute course and how the Hanne Howard project is being run.
To start with, I will like to convey a lot of greetings from all your kids and my two twin brothers at large. On education at the ISBI centre, at the moment I completed the compulsory topics which includes; B/S management, Marketing, Life skills, Networking and Basic accounting. We started the choice courses, now am attending office management classes in the Eastland’s centre. I’m also continuing with the computer lessons which will come to completion by July 7th God willing. The course has helped me gain a lot of confidence and knowledge which I was lacking.
On the other side in the project, I’ve not been that regular, because am always coming from school very late, but am helping Teacher Duncan with Computer lessons and Co-curriculum activities. The kids are very happy and Joyful, thus this makes our work easier everyday. After the end of the Samsung Real Dreams Course, we are expected to attend a two and a half months Internship which will be closely monitored by the Center’s director.
I am looking forward to completing the long course and getting something out off it. Thanks once again for placing me in the Samsung Real Dreams Course and may God bless all your endeavors back there in Canada. We are praying to God to abundantly bless all the works you and Baba Teddy are doing to improve our lives. In conclusion, I would like to wish you and Baba Teddy a wonderful season
in Canada and always know that we are all healthy and we love you very much.
Fondly, Kennedy Otieno
We’re one happy family
Things come and things go however the coming of HHFL brought to us something that will for sure not go away. There is a prove for this by the look at the smiles in our faces. We never thought this will ever happen beyond our expectations.
It’s brilliant to have library and computers which are of great use to us. Visiting different places opens our minds and also makes us socialize with other people from different backgrounds and we learn from them. We have been changed physically and also emotionally which we have achieved through the games that we play. We have got lots materials to use and we have learnt new games from the people who visit us with a helping heart.
New activities have been introduced and this is giving us more energy. We are really privileged . You can imagine kids from the slum getting swimming lessons!, this activity keeps us motivated and eager to go for the next training session. Art has been there since the beginning, but now we have approached the sense with different style. MOBILE ART SCHOOL KENYA. These guys are wonderful. We have been working with them after discovering how much potential they have their course is taken in schools, and they are helping the kids nature their talents, in the less fortune homes in Kenya. We really appreciate and we are happy of their encouraging teachers.
We would like to send our regards to those who give us a hand in this part of life we are in. We believe if it’s not through the support and encouragement we get from people out there and the love of God we would not have made it.
The picture above was taken during a Sunday day out at Uhuru Park Nairobi where the children not only enjoyed mixing with other people in a serene environment but also taking a ride in a boat at the small lake in the park. We are one happy family now.
With lots of appreciation
Duncan
Mobile Art School in Kenya (MASK) joins HHFL
The Mobile Art School in Kenya (MASK) joins the HHFL family and shares their love of art with our children! (www.mobileartschoolinkenya.org)
When arts and crafts was removed from the Kenyan school curriculum, Alla Tkachuk, a Kenyan native, decided to form a charity called Mobile Art School in Kenya (MASK) in 2003. It is the only organization in Kenya (and East Africa) that gives active support to the young people, especially those in rural areas and victims of conflict, in developing their creativity. MASK is also the only such organization in Kenya that promotes peace and social justice amongst schoolchildren through the arts.
John Githiri, one of MASK’s volunteer mobile art teachers, got involved with MASK while he was a student at the University of Nairobi. He had visited a motel where he saw a painting that captured his attention. “I asked the staff who had painted the piece and whether they could give me her contacts so that I could challenge her,” said Mr Githiri. This marked a partnership with Alla who later recruited other volunteers who teach the young artists.
John visits HHFL on Saturdays and runs workshops for our children with Duncan, HHFL’s art director. The workshops are followed by art lessons where the children work together to produce beautiful art work and hone their artistic skills. The children are divided into five classes of 25 students each.
“Think of shapes, name a shape you know, if you so wish, get a background and go ahead and paint,” John tells our kids. He uses drumbeat to “motivate the young artists to think of shapes to paint”.
The Nation, the leading Kenyan newspaper, published a wonderful article about MASK on Sunday May the 16. They are very proud of their work and its impact on the young.
And we couldn’t be more delighted to be working with them!
Please click on the link below to read the article.
Prize giving and back to school ceremony!
Saturday the heavens opened just as we were about to get underway! Not a very auspicious start. But puddles in the yard only dampened the feet not the fun! Our scouts paraded brilliantly. Our drama group had us laughing. We sang and danced.
The kids had just polished off 15 chickens at lunch (a special treat) and were warming up for the tubs of ice cream and other goodies that were to follow the ceremony.
We acknowledged a whole bunch of the kids for their 1st term performance at school and for their activities in the project, including scouting.
Thanks to the generosity of Lilley (who visited the project last month with her mom Lynda from Zurich) and her scout troop, we had several books on scouting to turn over to Abdallah , the assistant area commissioner for youth development and our scouts . We also handed out the scout T shirts that Lilley’s scout troop sent along.
The wonderful gifts donated by Jennifer Hardie and Matthew Hardie’s school in Dubai made great prizes. All in all, a terrific afternoon of fun and recognition.
A special asante sana to Lilley and Matthew and their mates for making this a very special occasion.
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Share our kids with your community and help us raise money!
We invite your participation to help us raise money for the HHFL children! With your fundraising support, we are able to ensure that the children at HHFL will continue to receive the care they need as they grow up! We welcome your unique gifts and talents and know they will help to make a difference.
You can fundraise in schools, through your kids’ activities, at work, through your own company or while you play – the possibilities are endless and the results are so rewarding. Some examples of successful fundraisers HHF supporters have held in the past include:
- Holding a bake sale at school
- Hosting a swim meet for children
- Hosting a tournament
- Hosting a dinner party with friends
- Donating money via professional workshops and corporate events
- Running marathons or climbing mountains
- Asking for birthday donations in lieu of gifts
- Donating unused equipment at work such as computers
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Download HHF’s new Fundraising Toolkit packed with inspiring fundraising tips, ideas and examples.Contact alexandra@hannehowardfund.org for more information – we’d love to hear from you! |
Innocent impressions: A 6 year old’s perspective
Written by Matthew Hardie, son of Jennifer Hardie
(Click to download Matthew’s school presentation entitled “Matthew’s trip to Kenya: Why I learned that we don’t need everything on earth”)
I’m Matthew Hardie, I’m from London and I’m six years old but I live in Dubai. My family has been sponsoring a little boy called Muli for the past two years. Muli and I have been writing each other letters for two years and I was really excited to meet my brother Muli.
Before we came to visit, my mum and I decided to do some fund-raising for the children. I decided to make 200 cupcakes and cookies and sell them during my school holidays in my mum’s office tower and we raised 2,940 UAE dirhams, which is 60,000 Kenyan shillings or $800 USD! Everyone in my class at school also collected things for the kids – pencils, crayons, reading books, note books, painting things and stickers. My mum’s company also raised money for the kids, in total we gave Hanne & Ted $4,400.
At first I thought that the slum where the children lived was going to be really dirty, not safe and that the children would have no beds and there would be no buildings around it and that all the children would be sad because they had no mums and dads and that made me feel bad. When I arrived I was extremely surprised because they were very happy, the children who live at HHF have a really nice room with beds and they have schools. And as soon as we arrived I was astonished. And also extremely excited, and as soon as I hopped out of the car I ran to go and find Muli but he was right in front of my car door!
Muli showed me his bedroom and he only had one toy. His toy was a big dolly with two pony tails, that he sleeps with. The next thing we did was we went out to play. I was pulling a rope and the other children were trying to catch it. And I sat in a wheelbarrow and they pushed me around! Afterwards a bell got rung and me and Muli stood in front of the whole HHF and they all sang for us for about one hour. And I handed out two footballs, one to Muli and another to Alice. And then we went to go have some lunch and I had a hamburger and Muli had half a chicken and Esther and Stephen had half a chicken. And Hanne was like: “can you eat all this?” and they said “sure!” and they ate everything on their plate but I left half of my hamburger and some chips and they asked if they could take it home and Hanne said yes so they wrapped it up and took it back to HHF and Muli shared it with his friend Little Brian. Brian looks like he is only 8 years old but he is actually 12.
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At HHF we saw 125 children. Some had no mums and dads and Hanne found them and she helped them and she made a project for them to live in, and she got some helpers to help her and then it just appeared like that and they got some beds. Some of the kids have no mums and dads because they died. In the hostel they sleep all together and their beds are all in one row and they are all friends together and they never argue. In the day time when the kids wake up in the morning they play. Then they go to school, only for one or two hours. Then they come back to Hanne Howard Fund and they play because they always play. Then they have lunch and then they play again then they have dinner then they play again then they jump in the water to have a bath then they go to bed.
The next day I went back to HHF and I heard a dog howling on the way and then we got there and we arrived at HHF and we got out of the car and the same thing happened – Muli was in front of my car door! Me and Muli went to go play. And then when I guessed play was nearly over I went to go ask Hanne if I could ring the bell and she said yes. When the scouts came out I rang the bell and somebody wouldn’t stop playing so I rang the bell in their ear and said, “can you hear that play is over?” then they all came and they sang a very long song for us. And then the scouts came on stage on the red dirt and I helped them put up the stage. They did a dance and they asked me and mum and Alexandra and Sebastian to do a dance with them, and we did. And when it finished the scouts were all in a line and they asked me, Alexandra, Sebastian, my mum, Ted and Hanne if we could inspect the scouts. And we inspected them.
When we went to Hanne Howard Fund I felt quite happy because it looks like that and they seem very happy. They seemed to have forgotten about their mums and dads. It changed my life because they told me that you don’t need anything. Things like games and chocolate, you don’t need them. They are only for treats. Because they barely had anything.
I would LOVE to go back.
Bye children!
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Patrick’s story: the best lesson I ever learned is to give back to society
Patrick is our volunteer computer tutor. He trains the kids in the after school program and during school breaks (April, August and December). Patrick’s background, drive and achievements and his positive “can do” attitude make him a very strong role model for our kids. Here’s his story in his own words:
Written by Patrick Wainaina, volunteer computer tutor
My name is Patrick Wainaina and I was born on May 1st, 1981. I grew up in Dandora slum, Kenya. My mum gave birth to me when she was seventeen.
I grew up with my grandmother and her five daughters. My mum was the eldest and she had already secured a job as a house girl in Parklands. She was working for a German family who also assisted in paying my school fees.
I remember back in 1990 when my mum started falling sick and she was in and out of hospital frequently. I used to like my mum so much for so many reasons. She used to listen to me and gave me advice that up to now I find useful in my life. For instance she asked me to treat all the ladies with respect and if I was chosen by one I should stand up and be a man.
I thought I was too young for that kind of advice then but now I do appreciate it because I already have a girlfriend (Rose) and we are getting married next year in 2011.
I still recall 13th June 1991 when my mum passed away. We were just the two of us at home and since she was bedridden I served her breakfast on bed. I gained enough courage to ask her the condition of her health and up to now I still recall the final words my mum told me. She asked me not to indulge myself in my premarital sex otherwise I would end up like her. She told me that she was suffering from a deadly disease called HIV/AIDS. She sent me to bring her a glass of water and when I came back my mum was no more.
My aunts were in secondary and colleges and so my grandmother could not afford to pay for my school fees and in 1994 she took me to St. Nicholas Children’s Home in Karen. I completed my High School in 2001 and got a mean grade of B- and later joined Daystar University. I studied Computer Science.
The best lesson I have learned in life is to give back to society. I am currently working at St. Nicholas primary school as a computer tutor. St Nicholas is where I lived for several years and where over 20 of the HHFL kids go to school. I am also working as a volunteer at HHFL helping them to learn the computer.
I would like to thank St. Nicholas, HHFL, Church of Apostles and all the donors who support St. Nicholas and HHFL.
Thank you so much for putting a smile on the faces of the needy children in Kenya. May God Bless You all.
Patrick Wainaina
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Scouts’ trip to Naivasha
Wesley Odiri (third from left) writes about a recent HHFL scouts’ trip. As this goes to post, another group of our scouts is about to leave on the same 3 night outing. Simon (pictured with Wesley’s group), and Lucy, on the HHFL staff, have just returned from a scout leadership training course. More of these are also planned. Enjoy !!
Written by Wesley Odiri
“ It was on a Wednesday evening when I and some of my fellow scouts were informed that we were to go for a training camp in Naivasha. We had ants in our pants but not all of us were to go, only five of us. Promptly, I rushed home at the speed of a charging buffalo and informed my biological mother who helped me pack my garbs.
Finally, the next day arrived. In that nippy and gloomy morning I was in my best bib and tucker-that is the scout uniform. I had rushed to the project and we were given some other things. In the small wee hours, we set off to a place in Kawangare called C.D.F. We waited for the bus for some hours but nothing came. Then we went to fill our empty stomachs which kept on rumbling with hunger. Fortunately around 4 o’clock the coach came. We dashed in and took our seats.
The trip took hours to reach Naivasha. It halted and we alighted from it. We took our bags and suitcases and entered the school. We were frog marched to the dormitories and told to choose beds. We met with some other scouts from different schools and mingled together. We made friends and knew each other a lot. In a nick of time we were to the dining room where we ate dinner. After the delicious meal we went to sleep because we were dog tired.
When it was dawn we woke up and went out for a morning run. Truly the morning run was boring because of waking up very early. We then went for a bath. After bathing we went for breakfast. We then took our books and went to classes. We learned a lot about scouting. When it was mid-day, we went for lunch. Then we went swimming at a place called crayfish. We swam and returned to the campsite.
On the following day we had a dancing club. He! People danced vigorously and the winning scout would be awarded. At night we had a campfire. This event is done when some scouts want to depart a camping site. We danced and acted according to our patrols.
The following day we had our breakfast and went for morning devotion. Then the scout leader, Mr. Abdallah, awarded the best scouts in different events. The HHF organization had a large number of qualifiers. We returned to our dormitories and packed our things. When the bus arrived we boarded and departed for home.
I thank the HHFL organization for making the expedition possible! “
HHFL’s first ever easter egg hunt…
Written by Alexandra Howard, daughter of Mama Hanne
On Sunday April 4th, Mum, Ted, Sebastian (my 1 1/2 year old) and I hosted HHFL’s first ever easter egg hunt at the project. As you can imagine, the kids had never heard of such a thing so Mum started by explaining the concept. As I scanned the 35 faces surrounding my mum as she spoke, I could see that there was confusion as much as there was excitement. You mean, you hide chocolates and sweets in far reaching places and we run around as fast as we can to find them? And then we keep and eat them all? YUP!
We corralled the excited kids into the hostel and the ‘grown ups’ scurried around the compound hiding about 100 sweets, chocolates and raw eggs on roofs, swings, benches, ledges, rocks..anything with a reasonable surface. As we were doing this, I could see the kids’ faces peeking through the hostel window as we went about our business…no peeking said Mama Hanne!! But of course, kids will be kids and there was no way around that one. We counted down loudly…3,2,1 and Mama Mary opened the door…well thank goodness I was holding Sebastian in my arms because holy smokes…what a fast and furious exit! Thirty five stampeding kids ran like bulls in a china shop to every nook and cranny on the compound, gleaming and squealing with every find. I guess they understood the concept after all. And like every egg hunt, the competition only grew stronger as the last sweets were being pursued..thank goodness there were no casualties!
But like a good and fair mother, Mama Hanne insisted that everyone put their loot in a communal bowl since it became quite obvious that the older kids’ collection of sweets far outweighed that of the younger ones. Poor Sebastian didn’t even manage to collect one sweet – no sooner did he make eye contact with a lone little chocolate on the ground in front of him was he side swiped by someone much larger and swifter – I tell you, there really is no mercy in battle!
After the last goodie was found, the kids, including Sebastian, stood patiently in a line and waited their turn to collect their share. Everyone received a lollipop, bite-sized chocolates, hard candies and a raw egg, which was later converted into delicious scrambled, fried and boiled eggs by Mama Margaret…a special Easter treat for our deserving kids.
It was such a wonderful morning and Sebastian and I were very happy to share our Easter customs with the HHFL kids. It was one of those fleeting moments where the differences in how and where we live in this world did not matter. We were bound by one commonality for the hour that we spent together running around in circles in search of sugar: good old fashioned fun. The kids are already wondering whether, in our part of the world, we have ‘candy hunts’ for any other occasions 
Who knows, perhaps we can start a new tradition??
Enjoy the video, which shares some of the excitement! Alex
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